Thesaurus results for DESCRIPTION

Q: How is the word 'description' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of description are character , kind , nature , sort , and type . While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined. // not all acts of that description are actually illegal

Q: When might 'character' be a better fit than 'description'?

The meanings of character and description largely overlap; however, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type. // research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

Q: When could 'kind' be used to replace 'description'?

While the synonyms kind and description are close in meaning, kind may suggest natural grouping. // a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

Q: When would 'nature' be a good substitute for 'description'?

The words nature and description can be used in similar contexts, but nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses. // two problems of a similar nature

Q: When can 'sort' be used instead of 'description'?

In some situations, the words sort and description are roughly equivalent. However, sort often suggests some disparagement. // the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

Q: In what contexts can 'type' take the place of 'description'?

The synonyms type and description are sometimes interchangeable, but type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group. // one of three basic body types

description

noun

di-ˈskrip-shən

Definition of description

as in depiction

a vivid representation in words of someone or something we immediately recognized the man from our cousin's description of him

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in type

a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common fixes small appliances and other things of that description

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word description distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of description are character, kind, nature, sort, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When might character be a better fit than description?

The meanings of character and description largely overlap; however, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When could kind be used to replace description?

While the synonyms kind and description are close in meaning, kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When would nature be a good substitute for description?

The words nature and description can be used in similar contexts, but nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When can sort be used instead of description?

In some situations, the words sort and description are roughly equivalent. However, sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can type take the place of description?

The synonyms type and description are sometimes interchangeable, but type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of description The descriptions of places are often little more than short, functional passages intended to convey generic information. — Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026 Probably the easiest description of psychosis is the obsolete term of insanity. — Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026 Perfumers working with Maison Crivelli are sent a mood board, including photos, videos, oral descriptions of people met, music heard and food tasted — varied sensorial components that describe an adventure Thibaud Crivelli has had. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026 Read on for the full schedule, along with the network’s official movie descriptions. — Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for description

Recent Examples of Synonyms for description

Noun

After reviewing a transcript of the scene provided by The Hollywood Reporter, two prominent American Muslim advocacy groups excoriated the film’s depiction of Islam.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
The detailed scenes highlight hunting rituals and feature realistic depictions of the animals.

— Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 10, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of depiction

Noun

Pretenders, the portrait of this first-ballot frontwoman’s venerable punk outfit that just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, gives you a possible answer pretty quickly.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026
For the first time, Zvyagintsev made a movie outside of Russia, moving Minotaur’s production to Latvia to stand in for a brutally frank portrait of his homeland at the dawn of the Ukraine war.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of portrait

Noun

The siblings find distraction, of a sort, at an underground theater performance of a play that Masi’s son, Siavash (Alireza Barabarian), is involved in.

— Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
The statewide volunteer effort aims to support North Texans struggling to afford groceries with volunteers sort and package groceries just down the road from where the convention will be held.

— Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of sort

Noun

The film received a very positive reception but its nearly four-hour runtime and the deeply unsettling nature of Gibney’s portrayal also seemed to have exhausted the crowd.

— Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Suffice it to say, a QB's rookie year is not always an accurate portrayal of the player that QB will become.

— Austin Mock, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of portrayal

Noun

Mannion’s big-picture plans require Hurts to play in an Eagles offense that has already looked very different.

— Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
The Late Show won for writing, short form comedy, picture editing, technical direction and camerawork, and lighting design — all a fond farewell to the show.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of picture

Noun

Over the course of the past two decades, some of the most popular athletes on the planet have established similar businesses to service their creative ambitions, spanning documentaries, TV shows, feature films, podcasts and across multiple genres.

— Justin Birnbaum, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Ripcord, a new independent film platform that aims to directly connect genre filmmakers with fans, has announced a spooky new film festival.

— William Earl, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of genre

Browse Nearby Words

descries

description

descriptions

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“Description.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/description. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of description

noun

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